Meet Elisa Jaramillo | Illustrator & Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Elisa Jaramillo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Elisa, why did you pursue a creative career?
I was that weird quiet kid always daydreaming and coming up with wild ideas. Drawing became a small hobby where I was able to bring the creations trapped in my head out into reality. Growing up, I was (and still am) a major nerd who loved playing video games and watching animations. I fell in love with these fantastical worlds and cast of characters which led me to wonder who the artists behind them were. This made me more interested in art, yet I never bothered with the idea that I would ever be a professional artist myself. When I had to decide my career path in high school, I was stumped, because I had no idea what I wanted to do. The only thing I liked doing was art. After lots of contemplation, I realized I couldn’t imagine myself doing anything else. I eventually took the plunge, and here I am now—on the road to my dream and doing what I love!

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
In my artwork, I like utilizing clean graphic line work, vivid colors including lots of pinks, and drawing subjects that I find interesting and beautiful. Many people think drawing and painting for a living is easy work, but it’s actually quite difficult and stressful both mentally and physically. I’ve had many ups and downs throughout my artistic career with some days, I feel like I’ve moved ten steps forward while on others, I’ve moved ten steps back. The only solution I’ve found for these slumps is to just take a break and relax. I go out into the world, experience different things, observe my surroundings, and look at various forms of art. I then come back to a project with a clear head and my creative juices flowing. I’m constantly learning and improving as an artist and as a person every single day. Through trials and tribulation, I started to acquire a “keep moving forward” mindset. During times when I want to give up, I remember that there is always a future for me. Even if things don’t go my way, I can find other paths to take and overcome any setbacks and continue living.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would like to take them to a lot of art museums such as LACMA, the Getty Center, Norton Simon Museum, and the Huntington. We would go explore the many hiking trails in the area, visit botanical gardens, and walk along the California beaches. The Monterey Bay Aquarium and Aquarium of the Pacific are good places to look at amazing marine life and go whale watching, so I’d love to go there with them, too. I still have much to see since I haven’t lived in Los Angeles for very long, so my friend and I can seek out some cool new spots together!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to give a shoutout to my parents and sisters who’ve always been there supporting and encouraging me. I wouldn’t have made it this far in life without their help. To all my teachers, peers, and friends I’ve made at art school who taught me how to be a better artist and helped shape me as the person I am now.

Website: https://www.elijaraart.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elijara.art/

Image Credits
Shaina Jaramillo